Carbon Fiber Dash & Speedhut Gauges

[cgundermann]

After experimenting, I finally took a run at it and bonded/trimmed .5 MM polished carbon fiber to my dash and took advantage of Speedhut's March Sale. It took me a several days to design the gauges for the look I was trying to achieve (also went with the GPS speedometer and integrated shift lights). Very happy overall and I am still tinkering with various switches. If anyone is looking to do a carbon fiber dash, I befriended a local manufacturer who will cut it beyond his standard length to meet the FFR dash specs. Also, learned a couple of tricks for installing it, so let me know and I can pass on what I would do if I had to do it again.

87998798

[QSL]

looks great. Gives it a bit of the exotic car look. Very, very nice choice!

[riebelt]

Very very nice!

[E-Ticket Ride]

Great look!
I already have my gauges from FFR, but have been following various threads on CF dashes.
So what are some of the "secrets" that you have figured out after doing one?
Did you have any issues with the edges, or cutting the holes for the gauges?
How about the flexibility when you have to bend the dash ends for install?

I am not even close to working the dash yet, as I just got IFS installed, and hope to get the IRS this weekend. Any info will be helpful for planning. Post, PM, or e-mail.
TIA!
CL

[WIS89]

Love the contrasting colors on the guages! Between the colors and CF, they are a really great look; well done!

Regards,

Steve

[cgundermann]

I live in Washington State and a company here, http://www.protechcomposites.com/ - produces a high quality CF at a great value. The .25 MM sheet is easier to cut and bend, however, it will show surface imperfections. I went with the .5 MM sheet and also had them vacuam bond a 3M adhesive to the back. They will cut it to the 65" X 10" dimensions for the dash. You can bend the .25 MM sheet under the the dash and tack it with hidden rivets to hold the adhesion or in my case, I painted the bottom in a black bed liner and used the factory precision cut edge to line up with the bottom edge of the dash. With .25 and .5 MM, if you cut with scissors or scribe cut with an Exacto knife (pretty tough and difficult for the holes), it will leave barely noticeably fissures in the edges. You won't see most of these, however, if it is a visible edge - I would cut or use a dremel cutting tip for the edges/gauge holes and create a 1/4" stand off outline (CF away from aluminum). Next, I would use the dremel sanding wheel and sand the CF standoff down to the aluminum edge (sands quickly and stops nicely at the aluminum); gives it a laser cut edge without any small burrs. I was able to bend the tip of corners to 45 degrees after I bonded the CF to the dash without delaminating. I had put a rivet at the end to tack it, but it bended nicely and really didn't need it. Don't think you can bend the .5 MM around the bottom edge, but the .25 CF sheets you can. Cut out or drill any additional switch holes before you lay down the CF sheet (if you drill aftwards there is slight shock waves in the CF). I will be using some edge trim/dressing for the steering shaft hole and along the bottom edge (the top and gauge/switch holes are hidden).

[StromSpeed]

Very sweet! Love the fact SpeedHut can let us go custom with everything!

[skullandbones]

That's really a nice clean look! It beats the heck out of the padded dash. Your's will certainly stand out in the crowd.

It looks like you have overcome the idiosyncracies of the material. I am curious to know if this could be cut with a heat gun.

Great work!! Post some pics when you get it installed. WEK.